Automobile body sill



A. L. NELSON'ET AL AUTOMOBILE BODY $11.1.,`

Filed oct. 26. 1931 on' e Jan. 24, 1933.`

n. 49 up vof a series of Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNITED ASTA AUGUST L.

TO HAYESIBODYYCORPORATION, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN AUTOMOBILE BODY snm y Appucmon mea october 2e, 1931. 'serii Np.' 571,015. y y

tively cumbersome in order that the necessary strength which the sill must have shall Y Y n of sheet metal which similarly is formedwith not be lessened.

In the present invention it is a primaryobject and purpose to build an automobile body sill entirely of sheet metal, and so construct and reinforce the same that a very strong and rigid sill may be obtained and at the same time the construction be materially lightened in weight and thinner and lighter gauges of metal used.

An understanding of the invention for the attainment of the ends stated may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a side of an automobile body frame, the sill of our construction being shown fully in plan. Y

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the sill, and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged transverse cross sections on the planes of lines 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the'drawing.

In the construction of the sill an upper plate 1 of sheet metal is provided, which is formed lengthwise thereof with a continuous trough or depression of zigzag form as shown. The trough or depression 2 is made relatively short sections located at an angle to each other, as best shown in Fig. 1, and providing corners where the ends of any two sections meet.

At each side edge the plate 1 is formed with a downturned iiange, the flange 3 shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 at the outer side, and the flange 4 at the inner side of the sill; and for a portion at least of its length the flange 4 is provided with an outturned horizontal terminal flange 5. The upper plate 1 fora part 'r1-:s PATENT OFFICE *i NELSON ANDFRANK W. PEASE, OF GRAND RAPIDS, r'li/[ICI'IIGIAN', ASSIGNORS of its length may be formed with an upwardly pressed bead 1a at the corner where it joins 'withl the downturned iiange 3, and the lower yedge of the flange 3 may be formed into a semi-cylindrical roll or bead `6 for a part of its length, and for the remainder have an inturned lip 6a as shownf in Fig. 5,

the beads at 1a and 6 being at an intermediate portionin the length of the sill and associated with the door openings in-the body. The sill is completedby an underplate 7 a continuous upwardlyl extending trough* or depression 8 in its length, made up of zigzag sections as best shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The top 9 of the trough 8'contacts and bears against the under sides of lthe bottoms of the trough sections V2 where the sections of the same cross each other. At said contacting points the metal'ispermanently secured together preferably by spot welding. In addition the inner 4edge lportions ofthe bottom plate7 ofthe sill` extend underthe horizontal flanges 5 in `contacting engagement therewith and the same are `spot welde together, while at the outer edge, in conjunction with" the bead 6 described, theplate 7 is formed with a' bead 10 .ofsmaller radius fitting into'the bead 6 and the same secured together by welding; while at those portions of the `length Vof the sillV wherek Athe flange 3 eXtendsLstraight down, as shown :in Fig. 5, the plate 7 vterminates in a downwardl extending flange 10a bearing against the ange 3, Vsaid flanges being permanently secured together as by spot welding.

Sills in automobile bodies lie upon Vrthe upperiangesof the chassis frame members whichV ordinarily are of channel shape, as

shown at 11 inFig.l8. VA. suitable intermedi-A ate cushion orfbea'ring member is `disposed between the upper side of the upper 'langeof thechassisframernember 11 and 'the' sill and bolts 12 are passed downwardly through the` sill at spaced intervals and through the upper liange of the chassis member. The Vheads of the vbolts seat-in the trough or depression,2 at al corner made by a juncture of two of the angular sections; and whereV a bolt is passed through thesill, theunderplate 7 Vis formed with a frusto-conical depression 13 the top of which bears against the underside of the trough 2. This ldepression like depressions formed in said upper and lower plates extending toward veach other, saidl depressions being of zigzag form and crossing each other at a plurality of points in the length of the plates, and having contacting gether. t l Y In testimony whereof we vatlix our signatures.

AUGUST LI NELSON.

FRANK W PHASE:

their fastening at their contact points Where f the sections of the zigzag troughs cross each other together, with the permanentlysecuringof the edges of the upperand` lower plates together make a particularly.Y practical and efficient sill construction. n The invention is defined in the appended claims and isv to be yso y plate.y

considered comprehensiveof all forms ofV structure coming within their scope.

K We claim:

portions permanently secured to-V v l.y sill including upper and 'lower Vparal? i l lel sheet metal plates, said upper plate having,V a longitudinal downwardly extending trough therein of zigzag form, and the lower plate having a longitudinally extending up- I wardlypressed trough of zigzag form, the

inner portions or bottoms of said troughs 'crossing and contacting with each other yat spaced apart points and having V,permanent connection together.

Y 2. A sill of the class described coinprising, l

Van upper plate of sheetmetal formed longitudinally thereof with a downwardly pressed trough' having consecutive sections thereof l `rito.

disposed .at angles to each other, a lower v g plate of sheet metal located plate and parallel thereto `and formed with a longitudinally upwardly extending trough '.havingcontiguous sections located at an angle Vto each other, said sections of the troughs in the upper Y andflower plates crossing. each other at aY and contacting with keach other whereby the same may be permanently secured together.

3. AV construction containing the elements in combination delined in claim 2, said upper plate atits side edges having downwardly extending ianges,l and means connecting said flanges at their lower portions with the under 4. A construction containing .the elements plurality offspaced apart points under said upper in combination delined in claim 2, combined Y with upwardly extending recesses pressed lin the lower plate at spaced apart intervals directly below angles-ofthezigzag trough in the upper'plate, the upper part of the metal of said recesses in: said lower plate bearing against the bottoms of saidV trough in the upper plate at saidrangles. 1 1 5. A sill comprising, upper and lower plates of 'sheetzrnetal' spaced from-each other and vconnected atrtheir longitudinal edges, said plates having continuous reinforcing trough- 

